Dear friends,
Greetings from a surprisingly freezing Beit Jala! At the beginning of this new year, winter struck with all its might. Late January we had snow for two days, and even this coming weekend we’re expecting a snow wave for our area. Here, people not only long for the glorious white because of its rare appearance, but also because it brings public life to a standstill: no school for kids, no work for adults – and we must admit that even here at Beit Al Liqa’ such unexpected free time slots are welcomed as a precious gift!
Kids’ Club
We are so grateful when looking back on past Christmas season which lasted well into January this year. On 17th January 2008 we again had a big Christmas Party for children with the Child Evangelism Fellowship team from Nazareth. This party had actually been planned for the 5th January, but it was postponed since the ‘Operation Christmas Child’ shoebox gifts (from Samaritan’s Purse) had not arrived. But even on January 17th, we had to send the 300 or so children home empty-handed. We wrote down the children’s names on long lists and put them off until the week after. Then, on January 25th, the time had come: the gifts arrived and could be handed out to the kids! All of them returned home smiling and we were happy to be able to finally wrap up the Christmas season. The average weekly attendance of the Kids’ Club is still around 100, plus 10 to 15 mothers – which is just brilliant. Our team consisting of six teachers and helpers (Kathrin, Ronza, Sally, Inas, Melissa and Marlene) is constantly growing together to become a great team, and we distinctly feel God’s blessing at every weekly session.
Youngsters and Sports
Since the start of this year, we have – in addition to the youth group consisting of about 50 young people aged 14-18 – begun a teens’ group for the younger youth aged 11 to 13. Our newly refurbished youth centre growing more comfortably by the week, is now open four afternoons a week. A big number of youngsters come to the centre on those days and spend their free time here. Three afternoons a week our various football teams practise on the pitch right in front of the youth centre. Roughly 20 boys are part of each of those teams (for 7 to 10 year-olds, for 11 to 13 year-olds and for 14 to 16 year-olds). Frequently, it is these sports activities that bring new youngsters to our teens’ or youth group.
Staff
Since the beginning of this year, we have scheduled a special event for our staff: on two afternoons a month, they attend Bible lectures held by Hanna Katanacho, a young teacher from Nazareth, specializing in the Gospel of John. For our team, this is a special precious time, in which they already discovered quite a lot of new things in the Bible. Consolidating our staff’s faith and helping them consider their work at Beit Al Liqa’ as a ministry to God is very important to us. This is also reflected in our morning devotions. We’re very thankful for our new staff member Maike Fethke from Germany who has been with us since the beginning of January and who has been settling very well into her new job during these few weeks.
Thank you, Lord!
When looking back on last year, we are truly amazed at how God has blessed us. So many different programmes and events took place at Beit Al Liqa’, so many people crossed our paths. So much of God’s love could be shared, and so much fruit could be reaped last year alone! All of that is only possible, because of the great number of people standing behind us through their prayers and lots of small donations. Thank you all so much for your amazing support and we hope you will continue to be part of our ministry this new year. There’s so much to do! Can we count on you?
Kind regards
Johnny & Marlene Shahwan and the Beit Al Liqa team
Prayer Requests
Thank God with us…
- that we could finally hand out the presents on January 25
- for the large number of children attending our weekly kids’ club
- for the new teens’ group
- for the three football teams
- for our staff and voluntary helpers
- for His great blessings He poured out on us last year and His help and providence
Ask God with us …..
- for the daily encounters with people at our centre.
- for our staff and their ministry to the little ones at our nursery school
- for love and patience with our youngsters
- for the planning and preparation of this year
- that Beit Al Liqa’s daily financial needs will be met
CCk Missions 
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